JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell on Tuesday threatened to sue the federal government over the closure of federal refuges during the partial government shutdown.

Parnell, in a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, said the state would sue unless the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reversed its shutdown of federal refuges in Alaska by the close of business Tuesday.

JUNEAU — Former Natural Resources Commissioner and state Attorney General Dan Sullivan ended months of speculation Tuesday, officially announcing his bid for U.S. Senate.

Sullivan launched his campaign in Anchorage and planned additional stops in Wasilla and Fairbanks.

“I have dedicated my life to serving Alaska and America,” he told a few dozen supporters, friends and others at his Anchorage announcement. “I love this state, and I have a passion for helping my fellow Alaskans.”

JUNEAU — Gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker announced his running mate on Monday: former deputy Fish and Game commissioner Craig Fleener.

Fleener was introduced at a news conference in Fairbanks, just days after tendering his resignation. Both men plan to run as independent candidates and must gather just over 3,000 signatures each to qualify for the 2014 general election ballot.

JUNEAU — The companies seeking to advance a multibillion dollar natural gas pipeline project in Alaska have a leading contender for the terminal site where gas would be liquefied and shipped to Asia, signaling that a decades-old dream could become a reality even though major hurdles remain.

JUNEAU — Residents of the southeast Alaska community of Haines have taken a stand against “corporate personhood,” the legal concept that gives corporations rights like those of an individual.

Voters approved an amendment to the local charter preamble and bill of rights saying constitutional rights and those set out by the charter are guaranteed only to people — not to “artificial entities.”

JUNEAU — Political emails, urging recipients to check out Gov. Sean Parnell’s campaign page on Facebook, were inadvertently sent to some governmental, education and legislative addresses, his campaign manager said.

Jerry Gallagher told The Associated Press he takes full responsibility for what he called a mistake. He said it happened Thursday and he reported it to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, or APOC.